FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
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What are the advantages
of working on campus?
Your job
is close to classes. There is no FICA withheld. This adds over
$.50/hour to your paycheck (minimum half-time status required). Your work
schedule is compatible with your class schedule. You can begin working as
soon as you arrive on campus. You will receive valuable work experience.
You will receive paycheck every two weeks.
What kinds of jobs
are there? How many are available?
CMU
hires approximately 5,000 students per year as clerks, receptionists, cashiers,
computer assistants, food-service workers, laboratory attendants, research
aides, tutors, and general laborers to name just a few of the types of on-campus
jobs. Some jobs require no previous experience and some require more specialized
training.
Am I
eligible to work on campus?
If
you are enrolled in a degree-granting program at CMU and registered for at least
½ time enrollment for the semester in which you would be working (international
students must be enrolled full-time), you are eligible to work on campus. If you
are a new student during the summer you may work on campus in a GSA position, as long as you are
planning to be enrolled in the fall.
Where
and how do I start looking for a job?
Student
Employment Services coordinates all on-campus employment, and listing
opportunities on our
website and on the bulletin board outside of our office, open
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Student Employment staff is
ready to assist you if you have employment questions.
What is the difference between Work Study and General Student Assistance (GSA)?
WORK-STUDY
Work-study jobs are available to students who have applied for and have been
granted financial aid packages that include Federal or Michigan work-study
awards. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
to receive work study awards.
Work-study positions are available in a variety of campus departments. Students can earn up to their awarded amounts. Students cannot use their awards for off-campus employment.
Work-study employment is also available during the summer semester. Students must complete the Summer Aid Application, which is different from the FAFSA, to qualify for summer work-study. This form is available from the Student Service Court and on the Scholarships and Financial Aid website beginning March 1 of each year.
GENERAL STUDENT ASSISTANCE (GSA)
All students, including international students and students who do not qualify
for financial aid, are eligible for GSA employment. These positions are
funded through department budgets. Students earnings through GSA
employment are not limited.
To
find out about available positions, visit the office and examine all current job
listings on the Job Bulletin Board and on our website. For GSA postings,
the listing describes the duties of the job, qualifications, hours, and the
person to contact. For work-study postings, the listing describes duties
of the job, qualifications, and hours. The contact person's name can be
obtained from the Student Employment Services office (after we verify that you
have work-study eligibility) at 989.774.3881. If you have an interest in a
department that does not have a current job posting you are still encouraged to
go to that department and express your interest.
How do I apply for a position?
When you find an on-campus job that you want to apply for, contact the department, faculty or
staff member directly for information about the position. Application procedures
vary from department to department.
I've
contacted the department and have been called for an interview. Now what?
Below are some hints to help you get hired:
Be on time. Never arrive late for an interview. If you aren't sure where to go, ask for directions.
Be well dressed. This is a job interview, so dress professionally. Wear clean, tidy clothes. T-shirts, shorts or sandals are not recommended when interviewing for a position.
Bring a well written resume. It also is a good idea to have a list of available references in case you are asked to provide that information.
Be prepared. You may need to complete an application. Have your dates of employment and employer information available. Bring your class schedule as well. You may want to practice answering interview questions such as, "What are your skills?" or, "What are your strong points?"
Be confident. Answer all questions clearly and concisely. Give examples of difficult work situations and how you handled them.
Be grateful. Thank the interviewer by name. Politeness never goes out of style.
Be sure to
come to the Student Employment Services office to
complete your paperwork after you have been hired. Bring a photo ID and Social Security card with
you (no copies or facsimiles will be accepted). If you are an
international student, also bring your I-20 form and Passport.
What benefits does
on-campus student employment offer me?
Working on campus while you attend college offers a variety of advantages:
It Assists in financing your education.
It Develops valuable skills.
You learn about career opportunities
It adds to your professional references.
No FICA taxes are withheld (for at least 1/2 time enrolled students)
It eliminates travel to off-campus
jobs.
Will my work
experience be career-related?
All employment while
attending school will give you a clearer understanding of the dynamics of the
working world.
Newly hired on-campus
employees must report to Student Employment Services prior to starting work. You
will complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form), and W-4
Tax Withholding Certificates for the State and Federal governments. For this you
will need your Social Security Card. If you have lost your social security card,
you may apply for a duplicate at the Social Security Administration. If you have
never had a social security number, you must also go to the Social Security
Administration Office. The Mount Pleasant Social Security Office is located at
1940 Sweeney Street, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858. (Traveling from Mission Street
you would turn east on Broomfield. The
office is ¼ mile east on Broomfield from Mission Street. Sweeney is on the
North side of the road, you will see the building right as you turn onto
Sweeney).
What restrictions
will be placed on my work?
It is recommended
that Students who are citizens or permanent residents of the US work no more
than 20 hours per week. International Students must not exceed 20
hours per week due to visa restrictions. During semester breaks, and the summer
semester, students (including International students) can work up to 40 hours
per week.
CMU student employees will earn a bi-weekly paycheck based on rate of pay and number of hours worked. Paychecks are delivered directly to the department for which you work.
Student Pay Rates are
determined by the department for which they work. The pay date schedule is
available on the
Payroll Website
All student
employees at CMU are subject to the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities,
and Disciplinary Procedures that can be found at the
CMU
Dean of Students Website.
At the date of hire, it is the responsibility of the hiring department to insure
that the student understands all of the conditions of employment, including any
policies held directly by the hiring department.
Student employees
should be given a 15-minute rest period during each continuous four hours of
work. The rest period is to be preceded and followed by a worked period. It
should not be used to cover a student's late arrival or early departure.
Rest periods are scheduled by the supervisor and cannot be accumulated.
Under the ADA and the
MPDCRA, an employer is required to make "reasonable"
accommodations
for a qualified individual with a disability, unless the accommodations would
impose due to hardship on the employer. Please contact Student Disability
Services located in the Park Library room 120 for more information.
Student employees who
could potentially be exposed to hazardous
chemicals
must be informed of their rights under the law, be trained in specific safety procedures
necessary to work with these materials. Please attend CMU’s on-line
Right To Know Training.
Click on “Online Training” then click on “Right to Know.” Follow the
directions from there. When you complete the training your employer will be
contacted or you will receive a certification card.
Consistent with state
and federal law, Central Michigan University will maintain a workplace free from
the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a
controlled substance. Please see the
written policy.
CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity and provide equal opportunity within its community. CMU does not discriminate in employment against persons based on age, color, disability, gender, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or weight.
What is the sexual harassment
policy?
Elliott-Larsen
Civil Rights Act 453 of 1976 as Amended by Public Act 202 of 1980:
Sec
103(h) Discrimination because of sex includes sexual harassment which means
unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or
physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature when:
(i) Submission to such conduct or
communication is made a term or condition either explicitly or implicitly to
obtain employment, public accommodations or public services, education, or
housing.
(ii) Submission to or rejection of
such conduct or communication by an individual is used as a factor in decisions
affecting such individual's employment, public accommodations or public
services, education, or housing.
(iii) Such conduct or communication
has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's
employment, public accommodations or public services, education, or housing, or
creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment, public
accommodations, public services, education, or housing environment.
This
information and more is available from the
Michigan
Department of Civil Rights Online Pamphlet website. The pamphlet is called,
"Unlawful
Sexual Harassment: How to Recognize It, How to Stop It, Where to Go for
Help."
To
get more information including a list of Sexual Harassment Liaisons at CMU
access the
Affirmative Action website
or call: 989.774.3253.
What if I am treated unfairly?
Student employees who
feel they have been treated unfairly or improperly in the workplace should meet
with their supervisor, and an earnest attempt should be made by both parties to
resolve the problem. If the matter is not brought to a satisfactory
conclusion through this meeting, student employees may seek advise and
assistance from Student Employment Services.
Central Michigan
University respects and honors the right of each person to terminate his or her
employment at any time and for any reason.
Students should provide two week's notice when employment is voluntarily
terminated.
Central Michigan
University respects and honors the right of each person to terminate his or her
employment at any time and for any reason, and because students are "at
will" employees, the University retains the same right in terminating the
employment of a student at any time.
Disciplinary problems and violation of rules will be dealt with according to the
situation and the work record of the employee in compliance with applicable
laws.
All University property such as keys, uniforms, and tools must be returned to supervisors before final paychecks are issued.